Skirt-fastener.



No. 659,047. Patented Oct. 2, I900. M. D. BIDDLE.

SKIRT FASTENEB.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1900.)

(No Model.)

TII3 III- M11619 WM 2W2; 6. K 8

Al A7TORNEY6 vation of my improved device. trates my fastening device secured in position MARSHALL D. BIDDLE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SKIRT-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,047, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed March 29, 1900. serial No. 10,638. N model.)

teners; and I do hereby declare the following i to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention relates to an improved device for determining the height at which a skirtband is to be secured to a corset or similar garment and for preventing the upward movement of the same on the supporting-garment.

, In accordance with the fashion of the present t many women desire to have the waist-r. of their dresses slope gradually toward tne front, so that said waist-line is lower in the front than it is at the back. This waist-line, popularly known as the French waist-line, is formed by securing the skirtband lower in front than the natural waistline. Various makeshifts, such as pinning,

7 have heretofore been used to accomplish this purpose, but have been found inconvenient and unreliable in practice.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and reliable device capable of being readily applied and detached which will hold the skirt-band low in front and maintain the waist-line in the desired position.

My device is comfortable for wear, easily adjusted to anydesired height, will not injure the fabric, and is completely concealed by the skirt-band when adjusted.

My invention consists of certaindetails of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described in the specification,

illustrated in the drawings, and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure I is a View in ele- Fig. II illuson the supporting-garment and in engagement with the skirt-band. Fig. III illustrates a side view of the same. Fig. IV illustrates a modification of my device adapted to engage the skirt-band at two points. Fig. V is Fig.

a view in side elevation of the same. VI is a section on lines VI VI, Fig. IV.

Referring to said drawings, A represents my improved device, which is formed, preferably, of a single piece of sheet metal and consists of a support-engaging shank or member a, and a dress-belt-holding-down member I), provided, preferably, with the downwardlyturne'd hook c for engaging the dress-belt. Said shank portion a is provided with a series of eyes a, which are adapted to engage with the rivets, studs, or other eye-engaging devices on a corset or similar garment, whereby the device may be securely attached in position for use and adjusted at any desired height.

My improved device is made, preferably, of pliable material, such as sheet metal, in order that the shank may readily yield or bend in accordance with the curve of the body'and always remain in position along the line of the corset-steels.

In Fig. IV is shown a modification of my fastening device wherein the device is shown as comprising a shank portion and two divergent arm portions formed integral there with. Each of the respective arm portions is bent upon itself at its free end, so as to form a book. This form is preferable when it is desirable to equalize the strain on the skirt-band.

In the drawings I have shown the shank portion or corset-engaging member extending downwardly and the skirtband -engaging member extending upwardly; but it will readily be seen that by adapting the form of the hook the relative position of the members may be reversed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The operation and use of my improved device are as follows: The device is preferably attached to the front of the corset in'such a position that the hook-bearing member will be uppermost and the hook turned outwardly and downwardly. The attachment of the device is effected by slipping one of the eyes or holes 6 in the shank portion over one of the corset studs or rivets at the desired height, which will be determined by the length of the waist desired to be attained. The band ofthe dress is then passed under the hook, which will efiectually hold the same from creeping upwardly on the waist.

By means of my device any desired slope in the waist-line is easily and quickly obtained, and any tendency of the skirt-band to rise in the front and sag in the back is eifectually prevented.

It will readily be seen that when in practical use my invention in no way constitutes a skirt supporteror fastener, but, on the contrary, causes a downward pressure on the skirt-band. The use of my device does not do away with the necessity of securing the skirt to the supporting-garment by the means heretofore in use.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A device for securing and maintaining adowuward tension on a skirt-band comprising a shank portion provided with aseries of eyelets t'or adjustably engaging studs on a supporting garment, and a body portion formed integral therewith and provided with outwardly and downwardly turned hooks, substantially as described.

2. An improved article of manufacture oi the character described for preventing the upward movement of a skirt-band on a corset or similar garment, consisting of a device formed from a single piece of sheet metal, comprisinga longitudinal shank portion provided with a series of eyelets, and two divergent arm portions, each of the respective arm portions being bent upon itself at its free end to form a hook, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

Signed by me at Cleveland, Ohio, this 24th day of March, 1900.

MARSHALL D. BIDDLE.

Witnesses:

VICTOR C. LYNCH, A. H. PARRATT. 

